Marie, Lady Stubbs, DSG (born 1939) is a British educator and academic, mostly known for being the headmistress who reformed St George's Roman Catholic Secondary School, in

Maida Vale Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale is ...

, London.

Career in education

Early career

Marie Margaret Stubbs was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, and became head teacher at Douay Martyrs School in

Ickenham Ickenham is an area in Greater London, forming the eastern part of Uxbridge and within the London Borough of Hillingdon. While no major historical events have taken place in Ickenham, settlements dating back to the Roman occupation of Britain ...

. She was also responsible for the running of secure unit for girls in South London.

Headmistress of St George's

The school had been put on "

special measures Special measures is a status applied by regulators of public services in Britain to providers who fall short of acceptable standards. In education (England and Wales) Ofsted, the schools inspection agency for England and some British Overseas Ter ...

" by OFSTED, meaning that it was considered to be well below standard and subject to regular inspection. The students had serious behavioural problems and there was low morale among the staff, due in part to the murder of a previous headmaster, Philip Lawrence, who was stabbed to death when intervening in a fight at the school gates. A new headteacher, Margaret Ryan was appointed and later resigned. As a result, Lady Stubbs was asked to leave retirement and given a contract of seventeen months to reform the school or it would face closure. Seventeen months after her appointment as headmistress, the school was taken off special measures, once believed to be impossible by some and was no longer considered to be failing. In regards to Stubbs' term, Paul McGuire of the '' South China Morning Post'' wrote "there is little doubt that the single-minded determination of tubbs ..had a fundamental impact on the school's improvement." McGuire stated that "tension and controversy", with "some of it acted out in the national press" had occurred during Stubbs' term.

Second retirement

Following her experience at St George's, she wrote the book '' Ahead of the Class'' which outlines her time at the school as well as her opinions on the need for good leadership of headteachers in order for schools to succeed. She quoted about education: ''"You should sit down and decide what makes a good education for the children. Every child should be intrinsically valued."'' In 2005, ITV made the book into a two-hour drama with

Julie Walters Dame Julia Mary Walters (born 22 February 1950), known professionally as Julie Walters, is an English actress. She is the recipient of four British Academy Television Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two International Emmy Awards, a B ...

in the role of Lady Stubbs.

Personal life

Lady Stubbs has been married to Sir William Stubbs, formerly Head of the QCA, since 1963. The couple divide their time between London and

Banbury Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshir ...

, Oxfordshire. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.

Honours

* Member of the governing body of

De Montfort University De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a public university in the city of Leicester, England. It was established in accordance with the Further and Higher Education Act in 1992 as a degree awarding body. The name De Montfort University was tak ...

, which awarded her an honorary doctorate * Catholic Woman of the Year (2002) * Nominated as Scotswoman of the Year (2005)Biodata for Lady Marie Stubbs
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Decorations

:- Dame of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great (DSG)

Styles

*1963–1994 – Mrs Marie Stubbs *1994–present – Marie, Lady Stubbs

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stubbs, Marie 1939 births Living people English Roman Catholics British writers Schoolteachers from Glasgow Women school principals and headteachers Women heads of schools in the United Kingdom People associated with De Montfort University